"Tim Cook, the acting CEO for Apple, confirmed yesterday that the company will be spending nearly four billion dollars over the next 24 months in what it calls long term component contracts - and we believe that Apple might be on the verge of bringing back Project Aquarius."

They know better what they wants in a chip, as software developpers. Asking a chip maker (alliance with ARM) could be long to get the IP modified, then the chip manufactured.

Then having an Intel allowed people to run Windows on MacIntel, or MacOS on non Mac machines (remember the clones) By having specific hardware, it's like DRM, you cannot do anything without their consent.

When they invest into CPU R&D as much as Intel then we'll consider them "the giant". They are the giant of the consumer products, there is no argument there.
Their base is unfortunately the "flaky" consumer products. People are a lot less loyal than companies. And that is why Apple are "raping" this golden opportunity they have. I would do the same in their place, because that is the smart move at he moment.
I hope this time they will have someone smart enough to formulate some long term strategy not to become irrelevant by the likes of Microsoft or other David of the rime.